Association between conicity index and gallstone disease: A cross-sectional study from NHANES 2017-2020

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The conicity index (C-index) is a recognized indicator associated with various diseases.
• The relationship between the C-index and gallstone disease (GSD) has not been previously investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential association between the conicity index and the prevalence of gallstone disease.
• To evaluate the predictive performance of the C-index for GSD compared to other anthropometric indices.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2017-2020.
• Employed survey-weighted multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic spline regression analyses.
• Conducted Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to compare predictive capabilities.

Main Results:

• A significant positive association was found between C-index and GSD prevalence in 3626 participants.
• Each standard deviation increase in C-index correlated with a 30% rise in GSD odds (OR = 1.30).
• C-index showed superior predictive power for GSD compared to waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and was comparable to body mass index (BMI).

Conclusions:

• The study establishes a significant positive association between the conicity index and gallstone disease prevalence.
• The conicity index shows potential as a valuable clinical marker for the early detection of gallstones.